The Power of Focus

Kirk Franklin does not sing well.

Kirk Franklin admits that he does not sing well.

So how did someone who does not sing well become one of the
largest gospel recording acts today?

The answer is that the man can do just about everything
else. He is a songwriter, choir director, consummate
performer and record producer. As for the singing, he
finds vocalists who sing well to do that for him. But who's
name is on the CD cover? Kirk Franklin.

Kirk Franklin didn't ignore his shortcomings, he made them
work for him. He had a vision for his life and he followed
it. And no, he doesn't sing a word on his current CD, "The
Rebirth of Kirk Franklin." He raps.

In her book "You can Heal Your Life", Louise Hay gives the
readers an example of her typical day. As soon as she gets
up in the morning, she sings affirmations. At noon she
again does affirmations. At night before she goes to bed,
she writes down whatever affirmation she's working with at
the time 10 or 25 times.

The woman is incredibly focused. She's arranged her life so
that everything she sees and everywhere she goes reflects
her version of life. She blesses her door. (who things of
blessing their door?) because only good comes through it.
She blesses her mailbox because only good news enters it.
She totally focuses on the positive. Now she's taken up
painting. Do you have any doubt that she'll succeed?

Homer Hickam wasn't good in algebra. In fact, he was almost
failing. Yet, this teenager wanted to become a rocket
scientist. He grew up in a coal mining town in West
Virginia where the only way to college was through a
football scholarship.

It didn't make sense that someone with his background and
his lack of abilities could become a rocket scientist. Yet.
He did. Despite what others thought of his dreams, he
focused on them and was determined to accomplish them.

Peter Drucker noted that, "whenever anything is being
accomplished, it is being done, I have learned, by a
monomaniac with a mission." There's much to say about
moderation. But not when it comes to your dreams and goals.

If you keep the vision of your life in front of you all the
time, you won't pay attention to the judgments of others.
After all, I'm sure plenty of folks let Kirk Franklin know
that he did not sing well.

And look where he is now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Irette Patterson is an author, speaker and coach
committed to helping creative folks love their
lives, live their dreams and use every advantage
they've got. To subscribe to her semimonthly
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